Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsNeurotransmitters and MoodWhat Reuptake Inhibitors DoTypes of Reuptake Inhibitors
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Table of Contents
Neurotransmitters and Mood
What Reuptake Inhibitors Do
Types of Reuptake Inhibitors
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What are reuptake inhibitors?
All reuptake inhibitors have similar mechanisms of action; however, they differ in the neurotransmitters they target.Understanding how reuptake inhibitors work begins with learning about these neurotransmitters.
A neurotransmitter is a chemical messenger that carries, boosts, and balances signals between nerve cells (neurons) and target cells throughout the body. Billions of neurotransmitter molecules work to keep ourbrainsfunctioning, managing everything from our breathing to a variety of psychological functions such as fear, mood, pleasure, and joy.
For the purpose of treating mood disorders, three specific neurotransmitters are targeted,each of which is associated with mood elevation:
The actions of the neurotransmitters can play a role in influencing mood. One long-held explanation suggested that chemical imbalances in the brain were responsible for depression. Recent evidence, however, disputes this idea and indicates that low neurotransmitter levels do not cause depression.
Depression is a complex condition, and many factors are believed to affect its onset. Antidepressants, including reuptake inhibitors, can positively affect different mental health conditions, although more research is needed to better understand their effects.
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The Alphabet Soup of Reuptake InhibitorsAcronyms that describe the neurotransmitter targeted include.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs)
The Alphabet Soup of Reuptake Inhibitors
Acronyms that describe the neurotransmitter targeted include.Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs)Norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (NRIs)Norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (NDRIs)Serotonin-norepinephrine-dopamine reuptake inhibitors (SNDRIs)
Acronyms that describe the neurotransmitter targeted include.
Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)
Although SSRIs are sometimes used to treat bipolar depression, controversy surrounds their effectiveness and potential to exacerbate the rapid cycling of moods.
SSRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
Serotonin-Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs)
SNRIs block both the serotonin transporter and norepinephrine transporter. SNRIs can be used to treat bipolar depression, MDD,ADHD,generalized anxiety disorder (GAD),obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), chronic nerve pain, and fibromyalgia.
SNRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
When compared to SSRIs, SNRIs are less likely to exacerbate rapid mood cycling in people with bipolar depression. However, they are commonly used for short-term therapy, as prolonged use may trigger amanic or hypomanic episode.
Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (NRIs)
NRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (NDRIs)
NDRIs block the action of both the norepinephrine transporter and the dopamine transporter. NDRIs are used for clinical depression, ADHD,and narcolepsy.
NDRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
Serotonin-Norepinephrine-Dopamine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNDRIs)
SNDRIs, also known as triple reuptake inhibitors, block the action of the serotonin transporter, norepinephrine transporter, and dopamine transporter. SNDRIs were developed to treat depression but can also be used to treat ADHD, chronic pain, and binge-eating disorder associated with obesity.
SNDRI medications approved for use in the U.S. include:
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11 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Reuptake inhibitor.APA Dictionary of Psychology.Nutt DJ.Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69 Suppl E1:4-7. PMID: 18494537Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93–107. PMID: 28867934McGirr A, Vöhringer PA, Ghaemi SN, Lam RW, Yatham LN.Safety and efficacy of adjunctive second-generation antidepressant therapy with a mood stabiliser or an atypical antipsychotic in acute bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1138-1146. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30264-4Vieta E, Garriga M.Adjunctive antidepressants in bipolar depression.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1095-1096. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30347-9Sansone RA, Sansone LA.Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: A pharmacological comparison.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014;11(3-4):37–42. PMID: 24800132Vardi K, Warner JL, Philip NS.Effects of antidepressant use and anxiety on psychiatric rehospitalization in bipolar depression.Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2014;26(3):207-216.Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Reports. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Deang KT, Sidi H, Zakaria H, et al.The novelty of bupropion as a dopaminergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Curr Drug Targets. 2019;20(2):210-219. doi:10.2174/1389450118666170511145628Malhotra S, King KH, Welge JA, Brusman-lovins L, Mcelroy SL.Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: A series of 35 patients.J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63(9):802-6. doi:10.4088/jcp.v63n0909
11 Sources
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.American Psychological Association.Reuptake inhibitor.APA Dictionary of Psychology.Nutt DJ.Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69 Suppl E1:4-7. PMID: 18494537Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93–107. PMID: 28867934McGirr A, Vöhringer PA, Ghaemi SN, Lam RW, Yatham LN.Safety and efficacy of adjunctive second-generation antidepressant therapy with a mood stabiliser or an atypical antipsychotic in acute bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1138-1146. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30264-4Vieta E, Garriga M.Adjunctive antidepressants in bipolar depression.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1095-1096. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30347-9Sansone RA, Sansone LA.Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: A pharmacological comparison.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014;11(3-4):37–42. PMID: 24800132Vardi K, Warner JL, Philip NS.Effects of antidepressant use and anxiety on psychiatric rehospitalization in bipolar depression.Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2014;26(3):207-216.Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Reports. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Deang KT, Sidi H, Zakaria H, et al.The novelty of bupropion as a dopaminergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Curr Drug Targets. 2019;20(2):210-219. doi:10.2174/1389450118666170511145628Malhotra S, King KH, Welge JA, Brusman-lovins L, Mcelroy SL.Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: A series of 35 patients.J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63(9):802-6. doi:10.4088/jcp.v63n0909
Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
American Psychological Association.Reuptake inhibitor.APA Dictionary of Psychology.Nutt DJ.Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69 Suppl E1:4-7. PMID: 18494537Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93–107. PMID: 28867934McGirr A, Vöhringer PA, Ghaemi SN, Lam RW, Yatham LN.Safety and efficacy of adjunctive second-generation antidepressant therapy with a mood stabiliser or an atypical antipsychotic in acute bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1138-1146. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30264-4Vieta E, Garriga M.Adjunctive antidepressants in bipolar depression.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1095-1096. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30347-9Sansone RA, Sansone LA.Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: A pharmacological comparison.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014;11(3-4):37–42. PMID: 24800132Vardi K, Warner JL, Philip NS.Effects of antidepressant use and anxiety on psychiatric rehospitalization in bipolar depression.Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2014;26(3):207-216.Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Reports. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001Deang KT, Sidi H, Zakaria H, et al.The novelty of bupropion as a dopaminergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Curr Drug Targets. 2019;20(2):210-219. doi:10.2174/1389450118666170511145628Malhotra S, King KH, Welge JA, Brusman-lovins L, Mcelroy SL.Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: A series of 35 patients.J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63(9):802-6. doi:10.4088/jcp.v63n0909
American Psychological Association.Reuptake inhibitor.APA Dictionary of Psychology.
Nutt DJ.Relationship of neurotransmitters to the symptoms of major depressive disorder.J Clin Psychiatry. 2008;69 Suppl E1:4-7. PMID: 18494537
Moncrieff J, Cooper RE, Stockmann T, Amendola S, Hengartner MP, Horowitz MA.The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence.Mol Psychiatry. 2022. doi:10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
Bandelow B, Michaelis S, Wedekind D.Treatment of anxiety disorders.Dialogues Clin Neurosci. 2017;19(2):93–107. PMID: 28867934
McGirr A, Vöhringer PA, Ghaemi SN, Lam RW, Yatham LN.Safety and efficacy of adjunctive second-generation antidepressant therapy with a mood stabiliser or an atypical antipsychotic in acute bipolar depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised placebo-controlled trials.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1138-1146. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30264-4
Vieta E, Garriga M.Adjunctive antidepressants in bipolar depression.The Lancet Psychiatry. 2016;3(12):1095-1096. doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(16)30347-9
Sansone RA, Sansone LA.Serotonin norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors: A pharmacological comparison.Innov Clin Neurosci. 2014;11(3-4):37–42. PMID: 24800132
Vardi K, Warner JL, Philip NS.Effects of antidepressant use and anxiety on psychiatric rehospitalization in bipolar depression.Ann Clin Psychiatry. 2014;26(3):207-216.
Fasipe OJ.The emergence of new antidepressants for clinical use: Agomelatine paradox versus other novel agents.IBRO Reports. 2019;6:95-110. doi:10.1016/j.ibror.2019.01.001
Deang KT, Sidi H, Zakaria H, et al.The novelty of bupropion as a dopaminergic antidepressant for the treatment of adult attention deficit hyperactive disorder.Curr Drug Targets. 2019;20(2):210-219. doi:10.2174/1389450118666170511145628
Malhotra S, King KH, Welge JA, Brusman-lovins L, Mcelroy SL.Venlafaxine treatment of binge-eating disorder associated with obesity: A series of 35 patients.J Clin Psychiatry. 2002;63(9):802-6. doi:10.4088/jcp.v63n0909
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